Kappa Delta Pi

Delta Psi Chapter International Honor Society in Education

Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, founded by Dr. William Bagley in 1911 at the University of Illinois, was established to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. The founders chose the name from the Greek words representing knowledge, duty, and power. Pioneering from its beginning by including women as well as men, Kappa Delta Pi grew from a local chapter to the international organization it is today, comprising 582 chapters and more than 45,000 active members.

Kappa Delta Pi members keep good company. Albert Einstein, George Washington Carver, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Margaret Mead are just a few of the historically known members. Current renowned members include Barbara Morgan, Alfie Kohn, Lisa Delpit, Andy Hargreaves, James Banks, and Howard Gardner. To date, more than 1,200,000 educators worldwide have been inducted into this international honor society.

From its inception, Kappa Delta Pi has been dedicated to scholarship and excellence. Yet, this 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization is more than an honor society. Through its programs, services, and products, Kappa Delta Pi supports and enhances the professional growth and teaching practices of its member educators throughout the phases and levels of their teaching careers. This support is essential to inaugurating and retaining the best and brightest professionals in the field of education.

The mission of Kappa Delta Pi is to sustain an honored community of diverse educators by promoting excellence and advancing scholarship, leadership, and service.

The vision of Kappa Delta Pi is to help committed educators be leaders in improving education for global citizenship.

Individually and collectively, Society members recognize and honor achievement; strive to a high degree of professional fellowship, leadership and growth in the field of education; and serve their students and educational community.

From its Alpha chapter beginning to its present-day chapter status that includes professional chapters, community colleges, and international members, Kappa Delta Pi is synonymous with scholarship, teaching, and service. The organization continues to strive to meet the changing needs of educators and their students, as well as provide member educators resources and opportunities that encourage innovative and best practices. Through publications, conferences, online resources, networking of education leaders, and strategic partnerships, Kappa Delta Pi focuses on issues that are critical to the growth of the profession and its individual teachers.

Kappa Delta Pi recognizes scholarship and excellence in education. Those individuals elected to membership exhibit the ideals of service, scholarship, ethics, and promise in the teaching and allied professions recognized by the Society. An invitation is extended to undergraduates who have obtained an overall grade point average of 3.2 or above and who have completed 30 credit hours and graduate students in education with a 3.5 grade point average.

Upon initiation, an individual remains a member for life with his/her name recorded permanently in the Society’s files. Active membership is maintained through payment of annual dues. Membership allows one to attend meetings of the chapter and to have special recognition at graduation ceremonies. Membership benefits also include publications, conferences, and other professional advantages offered by the International Society.

Kappa Delta Pi Motto

So to teach that our words inspire a will to learn; So to serve that each day may enhance the growth of exploring minds; So to live that we may guide young and old to know the truth and love the right.